Image via
Some Background
I used to be a really heavy packer. When I moved abroad to Southeast Asia for an exchange, I brought with me 2 huge 1960’s style full of … stuff. Granted, I was going for 4 months, but that was definitely the days prior to the birth of minimalist Frugirl.
Traveling around in Asia with my friends, who were much more minimalistic than myself, I learned to pack only what was really important. Some of my “high points” was a 3 week trip across Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam in just a school backpack, and also a 5-week trip across Egypt with by girl friends with a 50L pack.
Some Inspiration
Some great inspiration from the blogosphere are the very fashionable ladies at Extra Petite and Fabulously Broke. They have a lot of great tips and posts on how one can pack lightly while staying stylish, so I encourage you to check them out, before packing for your next trip!
4-days, 3-nights Boston Trip
This weekend, BF and I are taking a last-minute trip to one of my favourite cities in the world – Boston.
I just finished packing my bags last night, and snapped a few pictures to share with you my packing experience. I tried to pack light and still keep my outfits fun and make-up. 🙂
BF will be going for a quasi-business trip, and we are making a mini-vacation out of it. So most of my clothes are casual wear for comfort and (some) warmth.
Everything fits into my “Longchamp” look-alike brown (Roots – $35) gym bag and I will also be bringing along an over the shoulder purse.
What I Packed – Clothes
This is what I am bringing with me, and that indistinguishable pile at the back is what I will be wearing during the flight and our first day there. The clothes that are rolled up will be packed and this includes:
- 1 pair of dark rinse skinny jeans
- 2 cardigans
- 3 short sleeve t-shirts
- 2 long sleeve t-shirts
- 2 skinny belts
- 1 scarf (not shown)
- 1 pair of ankle boots
- 1 pair of knee high flat boots (not shown)
- 4 sets of under garments and socks (not shown)
- 1 sleeping shirt
- 1 pair of yoga pants
- cute hat (not shown)
What I Packed – Toiletries and Make-up
I got this wonderful make-up back just this weekend (for only $5!), and I am really happy with it.
For some reason, it’s really hard for me to find a make-up bag that can hold all my toiletries and my make-up. The ones that I have are either too big, or too small, and usually not enough compartments to keep everything organized.
I thought it would also be a great time to test out the Marcelle BB Cream and Joe Fresh cheek tint to save some space. I left my usual primer, tinted moisturizer, blotting powder, blush and large brushes at home.
Here’s what’s in my make-up bag:
- Small bottles of: cleanser, serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, acne medication, toothpaste, contact lens solution, and make-up remover
- Marcelle BB cream, 3 eye shadows, 1 cheek tint, 3 lip glosses, 2 lip sticks, 1 brow palette, 1 liquid liner, 3 pencil liners.
- Tools: 3 eye shadow brushes, 9 cotton pads, foldable brush, toothbrush.
Miscellaneous
I brought along another foldable (fake Longchamp by Chatelaine) bag for shopping :). You can see it peaking from behind my make-up bag. Most of the rest of the items are things I’d usually have in my purse anyway:
- Sunglasses
- Leather gloves
- Ear muffs
- Passport
- Wallet
- Small digital camera
- iPod Touch and charger
- More lipglosses 🙂
- Eye drops
- Contact lens and glasses case
Since we were traveling to the US, we didn’t convert any currency, and just used our credit cards everywhere. I did take out $60 cash from a bank machine – TD has machines there you can use – but we didn’t really need the cash.
Conclusion
Here’s everything all packed away.
I really enjoy not checking any bags, and I feel kinda like a celebrity breezing through with my minimal baggage, while everyone else waits for their bags to be dropped off 🙂
I still brought a little too much – I could have re-worn some shirts, I really didn’t need two pair of shoes, and I definitely could have eased up on the lip sticks ;), but I’m on vacation and wearing lipstick is fun!
Stay tuned for What I Bought in Boston! 🙂 Any bets on if I blew my $250 budget?
Readers, how do you like to pack for vacation?
Cheers,
I try to pack as little as possible. I go frequently to my moms which is 4 hours away, so we stay for weekends instead of driving back and I only bring 2 or 3 outfits. It makes it easy!
I try to pack things that I know I can mix and match so that I am not packing a ton of stuff. I also forget things so the less I have the easier it is for me to make sure I packed everything back up. I always keep in mind that if I pack light–it means more room for fun stuff I buy!
I am a heavy packer too. My friends laugh at me when I check in 2 huge luggages plus a carry on for a 1 week stay at home. I can’t help it, I am indecisive, but this really motivates me to pack light.
I like the bag you put everything in…what kind of bag is that?
It’s a tote bag made my a Canadian company, “Roots”. I found it in the clearance section of Sears about 2 years ago, so I”m not sure if it’s still available.
Packing light is the best way to travel and to live. I’ve lived out of a single suitcase for months at a time just like you… and that trained me to lose a lot of the “fluff!”
I always try to pack as light as possible. One great tip I read in a magazine is to always pack outfits! Very simple, but very true. I also pack outfits that I LOVE. That way, I can pack up to 7 outfits for most trips up to a month and be OK. Before, I always found myself overpacking, and not wearing more than half of the stuff when I’m actually away, because they didn’t pair well, or because I simply didn’t like them. Packing outfits that I love has seriously reduced the amount of items I now pack!
I’m a light packer too. Cheers to us!
Pingback: Friday Link Love « Cents of a Country Girl
I only ever take a carry on – much easier than waiting for your bags at the end of a flight.
Well done!! I love packing light, and I share your difficulty in finding a good make-up bag. I had a good one for years, good in that it held everything I wanted it to hold, then I realized that it was such an odd/large shape, that it took up all of my bag space! I got one at Target that looks similar to yours, and it has worked well for almost two years.
I love packing light. It is the most freeing feeling.
Loving the bag and your minimalistic packing.. I’ve just started thinking about it, so I loved reading your post.
FG, Where did you buy that makeup bag – can you share please ? what a great price.
Hi Kay,
I got my make-up bag from the clearance table at Rexall a few weeks ago. It’s marked $16.99 – which I would have paid – but rang up as $4.73. If you’re in Canada and near a Rexall, it might still be there (although I think every store is different).
Thanks Frugirl! I’ll check it out. We live in Mississauga and I’ve seen Rexalls here. Let me check it out.
I hope you had a great time visiting my city!! 🙂
Pingback: Link Love: Powered by Some Changes | fabulously fru-girl